What are the item(s) you need most for nursing school?

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Sep 20, 2005

I have a problem i am in nursing school and my professor is a wonderful PERSON, but isn't a good teacher. For her class we need 3 books, the actual nursing book, medical terminology and the dosage calculations. She does not teach medical terminology she said we must read that at home, she does not teach the dosage calculations, she breifly goes over it and says to go to the learning center if we have problems all she does is lecture about nursing which i feel those two topics are vital in nursing too. I go home and i read alot so I wont be lost in the lecture and i study the terminology alot, but for the people that cant pronounce these words b/c it is in (latin)should be taught. What should i do?

Most schools don't tech med terminology or drug calc (none in my town do). This is something you are expected to learn on your own. In fact, I have a math test on the first day of school every semester that I am required to figure out on my own--that is pretty standard. Your teacher is probably a good teacher-if you need extra help then speak to her outside of class. I'm sure she wont mind helping you out.

Califlower · Sep 20, 2005

What I found in nursing school is that your fellow students are your number one support group. Butt heads with them and study together! Check out other resources such as tutoring, or perhaps the library to see if they have additional references available on the topic. My school has an extensive collection of nursing videos (procedures mostly), and they are a great resource.

sharuzi22 · Oct 4, 2005

I absolutely cannot live without my computer! It not only aids me in the fact that I can do a quick search for anything that I may be having problems understanding but it is also there to just help me relax by playing a quick game to break up the monotony of all that studying. Here are a few other things:

Lots of three ring binders-----lots - you'll need them for notes-which are great to keep for future reference

alot of printer ink(black) and printer paper - of course

my trusty hole puncher

a small stapler

a TON of highlighters (which, if u go to career fairs u can get 4 free-nice!)

pants with pockets for clinicals

a sphygmomanometer ( blood pressure cuff) the school doesn't always have enough

a good stethescope

really good shoes - I like Rockers, by Cherokee, they are soooo comfy

a good sturdy bookcase - to keep all of those gigantic books close at hand

lots of black pens and #2 pencils with erasers

lots of ntoebooks and also a few of the really small ones to bring to clinicals

nail file and nail clippers - so u don't get sent home from clinicals

An up to date drug guide - some come with great CD ROMS!

make friends with your fellow students, you may not realize it now, but u are stuck with these people for at least the next 2 years, get to know them and organize study groups - they are very helpful :wink2:

Hope it helps!

caramelotee · Oct 4, 2005

I have been going through all these posts to find what items are the best things to have for nursing school. The posts are all scattered so I thought I would start a post that will contain all the info for the new incoming students.
I would like to know what I should spend my money on when it comes to study guides, NCLEX review books, NET review books, best nursing shoes (without a logo), stethescope, misc nursing items you have to have, etc. Any new students/senior students/graduate nurses have any info they can share? What were the items you couldn't live without???
Thanks for your input!

everything you said about having is true, I would also recommend a binder seperate from the one you WRITE your notes in to hold all of the hand out notes your professor may give you and save them for future references. As far as clinicals most definetly make sure you read before you go so you wont be lost and make sure everything your professor warned you about is always in tact, to avoid and early dismissals for you (personal experience) lol such as the length of your nails proper dress, and anything else your suppose to have on you. Most of all, aside from the material and required things, you need to have faith, energy, concentration, motivation and determination and everything will fall into place. This is a journey you are not on alone alot of other people are going through it also including me, so just dont give up even when it gets harder than youll ever imagine

hope i helped :)

Fun2, BSN, RN · Oct 5, 2005

Ok, I have a reallllllllly big question, errrr maybe I should say a realllly small question. lol

For those of you who have a watch that pins on your scrub top, where do you put it?

I was thinking about this just now, and wondering where it would go in order to be seen well. I am NOT big chested, so the watch obviously won't be at a 90 degree angle. :rotfl:

grentea · Oct 5, 2005

I'm quite sure people have commented about stethoscopes but I just wanted to say that getting a good stethoscope is important, especially when you're learning. I got a free one at school, but the earpieces really hurt and I couldn't hear nearly as much as I could with the Littmann that I bought. It was well worth the money to buy a Littmann. It's like the difference between someone whispering from ten feet away and a megaphone. Ok maybe I'm exagerating a little, but you get the picture. I got a deal at the uniform store when I was buying stuff for school. I just graduated and I'll be using it at my new job. They're really sturdy too! I'll bet I'll have mine for a long time. And that's my advertisement for Littmann. :)

Also if you're strapped for cash and you need more comfortable shoes, just put some Dr.Scholl's soles in the ones you've got. I have these blue ones and part of them have a blue hard plastic support and the rest is all cushy and soft. It's like walking on air, and I'm quite certain my feet would be in rough shape without them.

grentea · Oct 5, 2005

Another thing for the girls to get for nursing school...
A few pretty and modest sets of undies that you won't be embarrassed to wear in front of your lab parter. :imbar

Haha! I bought a few camisole-type undershirts for the occasion of such labs and they served me well because I somehow felt less emarrassed.

RN_N_DA_MAKN · Oct 6, 2005

I am in my first semester of the RN program and after the first two days of clinicals, I swore if I didn't find a good pair of nursing shoes, I would drop out of the program. My ankles were killing me during my time at the hospital, and all I could think of was getting out of those shoes-nevermind helping my patient with ADL's .

Anyway, I went back to the medical supply store that I purchased the shoes from and explained the situation to the store owner. He told me the shoe I owned was more of a "secretarial" type shoe and not designed to walk the floors and work in. After trying on shoes for an hour and testing them around the store, I decided on the DANSKO clog.

I can not emphasis enough the difference this shoe made. On my next clinical day, I never once thought about my feet (other than marveled at how great they felt). The shoe was expensive, but very, very worth it.

I suggest going to your local medical supply store (especially the locally owned/mom and pop stores) and asking for a student discount since the Dankso brand is expensive. I bought a $100 shoe for only $75.

Hope this helps and good luck to everyone :)

annlee1318 · Oct 8, 2005

I'll admit that I didn't read through all the pages here...but if no one has mentioned it, a good storage clipboard is a lifesaver! I keep my keys in here, as well as all my careplans, and extra paper! Plus, it comes in handy when you're writing vitals and doing your assessment.

Never_too_late · Oct 11, 2005

What you need..

every minute: determination: its not always easy but its worth it.

hourly: a reality check..'I am not losing my mind, i am just in nursing school'.

daily:a hug and a smile from someone who cares.

weekly: a review of your planning and work-in-progress to make certain that you are not falling behind.

monthly: a look back in awe at all that you have accomplished.

yearly: a party to celebrate how far you have come.

Never_too_late

TexasPediRN · Oct 11, 2005

For shoes I recommend Easy Spirits.

They are sold online or even at JCPENNEY's. I have found these the most comfortable shoes for nursing. I had nursemates, hated those, and I found danskos too expensive.

For those of you who want a fairy inexpensive ($45ish) sneaker that is comfortable for nursing I really recommend the Easy Spirits. A lot of my co-workers had them too and swore by them.

Get a nice lightweight stethoscope to save your neck! Those heavy ones hurt after a while. I recommend the littmann lightweight one, they are really good.

I also recommend during clinical making sure you have everything you need in your pockets in addition to stuff that everyone else mentioned. Make sure to always have alcohol wipes and bandaides and sissors and lots of pens! (you will loose them somehow)

Good Luck! Those storage clipboards that annlee1318 mentioned are also a Godsend. I highly recommend them.

AussieTina · Oct 12, 2005

Things that i would be lost without.

Mosbys Nursing Dictionary...love that book, make sure that i tell it that i love it everynight.:)

My Laptop

A suitcase on wheels...way too many books to carry, did get laughed to begin with...but now lots of people have one :rotfl:

A catering size can of coffee!

Tina....RN in 2 more years of study

Just a question, What is a PDA? never heard of one before